Inside the BRD: Cleveland Indians move Kyle Crockett to AAA Columbus after three games in majors

See Kyle Crockett's journey from Poquoson High School, to U.Va. and the minor-leagues, to his time with the Cleveland Indians.

Kyle Crockett pitched well in his past two relief outings with the Cleveland Indians after being called up from Class AA Akron this past Friday, but at least for now he does not figure in the Major League club's plans. The Indians announced on Thursday that Crockett will move to their AAA team in Columbus.

The Indians also announced they moved two pitchers from Columbus to Cleveland, while placing another on the disabled list. The Indians promotion of Major League veteran pitcher Mark Lowe, who has not given up an earned run in his past seven relief appearances with Columbus, was apparently the catalyst for the club’s move of Crockett to Columbus.

Crockett, a left-handed relief pitcher who allowed just two earned runs in 40 1/3 innings in two seasons of minor league baseball, gave up a home run and a single in 1 1/3 innings in his debut for Cleveland this past Friday in a loss to Oakland. He rebounded in his next two games, a loss to Oakland and a win over Detroit, to pitch a total of 2 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and just two base runners - both walks.

The Indians began a four-game series on Thursday at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles. Crockett made the trip to Baltimore with the Indians, but was expected to fly back to Cleveland on Thursday night or Friday morning before making the drive to Columbus.

Crockett, a Poquoson High and University of Virginia graduate, is the first player from the Peninsula to play in the majors since Phoebus High grad Wayne Gomes pitched in 2002 for the Boston Red Sox. Crockett was selected in the fourth round of the MLB draft in June and was the first member of the Indians draft class to make it to the majors.

Below is the announcement from the Cleveland Indians:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the following roster moves relative to the Major League roster:

Recalled LHP T.J. HOUSE (#58) from AAA Columbus.

Selected the contract of RHP MARK LOWE (#54) from AAA Columbus.

Placed RHP ZACH McALLISTER on the 15-day Disabled List with a low back strain.

Optioned LHP KYLE CROCKETT to Columbus.

Transferred OF NYJER MORGAN from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.

House, 24, was recently with the club from May 17-19, making his Major League debut on May 17 in relief vs. Oakland (1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K). Around his 3-day stint with Cleveland he has gone 1-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 7 starts for AAA Columbus (41.1IP, 35H, 12R/11ER, 11BB, 34K, .235AVG). His 2.40 ERA currently ranks 9th in the International League.

Lowe, 30, has spent the entire season to date with the Clippers, going 1-1 with 8 saves and a 3.86 ERA in 16 relief appearances (16.1IP, 16H, 7ER, 8BB, 21K, .246AVG). He is currently 4th in the International League in saves (8) and he has not allowed an earned run over his last 7 games (7.0IP, 4H, 1R/0ER, 3BB, 10K). On the year he is averaging 11.6 strikeouts per 9.0IP, has limited left-handed batters to a .212 (7-33) average against and a .174 (4-23) mark with runners in scoring position. Signed on April 3 by Cleveland, the Sugar Land, TX native was a non-roster invitee with Tampa Bay this spring (0.87ERA, 7G, 10.1IP, 11H, 1ER, 12K).

McAllister has gone 3-4 with a 5.89 ERA in 10 starts for Cleveland in 2014 (47.1IP, 53H, 34R/31ER, 19BB, 43K) and is beginning his second career stint on the Major League DL.